Toby comes to stay

On Monday we went to St. Albans to try to get Mas some comfortable trainers, and ended up buying two pairs. As the computers are not functioning, I spent time gardening, and sorting out the plants in the conservatory.

As we are expecting Toby to come for a visit tomorrow I prepared his bedroom and generally straightened out the house. We also went off to get some shopping, so that we do not have to do it when he is here.


Toby arrived early at Gatwick, but had to travel up to Mill Hill. I saw Barry next door, and Linda who is presently staying with him, and invited them for dinner later this week. When Toby arrived we spent most of the day talking, and had a very nice rib dinner which Mas cooked and we had a tasty bottle of wine with it too.

Today Toby and I went off to Hampstead, leaving Mas to work peacefully at home.
We took the Tube, and walking down from Hampstead station, found a cafe to have a quick coffee. Then walked through Hampstead looking at all the familiar places. We walked over Parliament Hill Fields with lots to talk about on the way, then wended our way back to the Flask Pub, and had a bite to eat there.










Flask Walk








Later we walked up Heath Street to the White Stone pond, which had an ecological area of reeds planted in it. We walked past what used to be the historic Jack Straw's Castle and went the back way to the Hill Garden and walked on the terraces there, before going to Golder's Hill Park looking at everyone enjoying the nice weather.

Eventually we walked down the sandy path and down to Child's Hill, where both I and Pete had been born. We walked to Golders Green and took the tube back to Edgware and then walking home! I was pleased that I could walk so far in one day still.

Mas had made another nice evening meal for us, and afterwards Toby left to spend the evening with friends, and Mas and I watched a TV programme about the Normans.

Reasons to be Cheerful

When we got up we watched Salty romping on the grass with the Tabby, and then they began chasing each other in circles. Clearly they are friends which is a relief.

Later we did some gardening to keep the place from being swamped by a tsunami of vegetation, and we both tried to catch up on various things that we had been putting off. Toby phoned talking about the wonderful holiday they had in Argentina which was very cheering.


Today I had to go to the Royal Free Hospital for a blood test, and afterwards walking up the hill towards Hampstead in the sunshine I felt really happy. It also seemed comforting to know that my grandparents, parents and aunties would have also walked up this street many times, looking at the same architecture, although the use of the various shops has changed.


When I got home Mas said we needed some shopping from Stanmore, and that we could have lunch at The Man in the Moon while there, which we did. We came home and watched a 'Monk',
Florence phoned, and I called Pete to see how he was. In the evening we watched a Wallender.

Ginger Beer saves the day.

After a two staged breakfast and lots of chatting we all went off to the Man in the Moon for lunch which was nice, but it was noisy as there were several groups of people being very loud (as Toby said, they were like Orcs). Afterwards Mas went off to work on his computer and Toby and I went off to Hampstead.

Once in Hampstead we went to The Flask to have a ginger beer and ice as the weather was so hot and humid. http://www.theflaskhampstead.co.uk/history.htm We then walked over Parliament Hill Fields, and saw people springing from a diving board into one of the swimming ponds; the water was quite full of people. We stopped to watch a fierce looking dog playing gently and protectively with a baby. We walked through Kenwood and eventually came out on the Spaniard's Road.
We were walking along, but noticed a bus stop told us we were headed for Golders Green, so tuned round and walked back until we got to the Gate and someone confirmed we were walking the wrong way. All I can say is that the bus must be traveling to the right to get to the left! This must have added another couple of miles to our walk.
Once in Hampstead we had to have another ginger beer before returning to Edgware.

Optimistic hospital visit and general cheerfulness

We got up fairly early today as I had to go to the hospital again. Mas gave me a lift to the station and I took the tube to Belsize Park. Once in the hospital I went to the general surgery clinic and saw a surgeon and we discussed my progress. It was decided that I should have various tests next year, and a follow up appointment in June. I will be monitored by my usual department in the meantime, and have contacts should any problems arise. I left feeling optimistic.

As it was a nice day I walked up through Hampstead, calling in at the Post Office on the way, and being generally pleased that I was alive and a lot of things seem right with the world. I went home and had a catnap with the cat.

On Saturday we went shopping and had lunch at The Man in the Moon where it was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday,but it was pouring with rain. Later I spoke to Diane who seemed rather cheerful, and later to Toby who was also cheerful.

We watched a very good Italian film, which we are hoping will be a new series, called Inspector Montalbano. It showed lots of interesting scenery, and the characters were very nice and unusual. This caused us to stay up much later than usual, but we still had to play Salty's special mouse game before we could go up to bed!

Walking in Hampstead with Toby

After breakfast Toby and I went off to Hampstead, and left Mas in peace and quiet to sort various things out. We walked all around, up Flask Walk and eventually came out by The Old White Bear pub, and then went off in a different direction. We both really like the houses and architecture, but I was unable to decide which would be mine (if only I could afford to live there).

Later we went into The Flask Pub and had some very refreshing ginger beer and a tasty snack. It is a nice pub as there is a conservatory kind of glass roof which makes it very light and airy in the eating area.

When we left there, we headed down towards the Vale of Health and walked on the Heath for a while, in an area where children usually fly kites.

We left there and walked around Christchurch, and past the small school that my mother attended when she was a child, before heading back.

As we walked back we saw people swimming in the mixed bathing pond, and saw that the fairground people were setting up the Fair for the Bank Holiday on Monday.

Lunch in Letchmore Heath and mooching in Hampstead

We went early to Letchmore Heath, and had lunch at the Three Horseshoes which was very nice, and Mas talked to Roy Skeggs who we had last seen when Toby and Romy were here together. He is a very interesting person.

Later Toby and I went off to Hampstead to walk, but it began raining in a dismal way. Despite this, we walked about looking at the architectural details and then stopped for a coffee, and later a drink at the Holly Bush before returning home. After dinner Toby left for the evening to meet up with his pals, and we went off to bed just as he arrived home again.

Hospital appointments and walking around Hampstead.

Yesterday I had to go to hospital for some test results. The doctors in the clinic where I had my appointment were off sick, except for one, consequently I had to wait there for two hours before being seen. Afterwards I walked around Hampstead, while I waited for a different appointment at the same hospital, and looked at the children playing in the playground of the school that my mother arrended. It was a crisp but sunny day; I took these pictures as I was walking.

I went back to the hospital to the Medical Appliances area as I was ordering some more arch supports. The man who runs this department is very nice, and very cheerful; I always leave his office laughing about something . The first time I went to see him I had almost forgotten the appointment, so I said that as well as the arch supports I needed a new head. He turned to me looking very serious and said that he couldn't supply one.......I would have to go to Head Office!

Kaffee Fassett, Hampstead sites and lunch with Diane

Yesterday I heard Kaffee Fassett, (the renowned textile designer, knitter, quilter and artist) being interviewed on the radio. He was born in California, but lives here now. When asked what he thinks of British weather he said he really enjoyed it, and when it was dreary and grey outside he looked forward to sitting beside the hearth and knitting, which he can do really fast.

I always feel like knitting in the winter too, I think it must be something to do with the survival instinct. One of these days I will try my hand at one of his lovely bright designs.

I took the tube to Hampstead, and walked down to Belsize Park to meet Diane. On the way I took a few photos.

Flask Walk, Hampstead

Hot crépes!

Moroccan Cafe.

Diane and I met as planned in 'Ask', and had a drink before going back to Hampstead and having a small lunch with some laughs and a long chat in The Flask Pub restaurant before going our separate ways.